Attorney Stephen R. Leslie

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Stephen R. Leslie

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FAX 813-229-1811

Stephen R. Leslie is a 1990 graduate of the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Mr. Leslie received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Stetson University College of Law in 1993. Mr. Leslie joined Stichter Riedel in 1993 and became a shareholder in 2001. Mr. Leslie’s active practice involves advice and consultation with clients concerning restructuring and deleveraging. His practice includes frequent court appearances in Federal Bankruptcy Court throughout the State of Florida and he heads the firm’s Ft. Myers office.

Mr. Leslie has acted as lead Chapter 11 or lead workout counsel in matters involving hundreds of millions of dollars in assets spanning marinas, condominium projects of various types, condo projects, hotels, self-storage facilities, general contractors, construction companies, motorcycle retailers, trucking companies, block and concrete manufacturers, furniture manufacturing, window and construction component manufacturing, farming operations of various types including citrus, real estate developers, apartment complexes, aerospace concerns and defense contractors, design firms, medical practices of various types (cardiac, dental, nephrology, ENT, etc.), medical and dental manufacturing and sales concerns, national carnival operators, diamond retailers, clothing retailers, auto repair retailers, retail strip centers, home accessory retailers, open-cast mining concerns, retail car rental companies, and several different types of restaurant chains. He has represented lenders (including DIP lenders), purchasers, and creditors’ committees in multiple Chapter 11 cases. He has been engaged as an expert witness on bankruptcy topics. He has also spent substantial time on commercial litigation matters in the bankruptcy context (including avoidance actions), as well as handling bankruptcy appellate matters.

EDUCATION
- 1990, University of South Florida, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- 1993, Stetson University College of Law, Juris Doctor, cum laude
BAR ADMISSIONS
- The Florida Bar (all state courts)
- North Carolina State Bar (all state courts)
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
HONORS AND DISTINCTIONS
- Alexander L. Paskay Award – Southwest Florida Bankruptcy Professionals Association
- Book awards for the highest academic scores in six law school courses, including the
  Alexander L. Paskay Bankruptcy Book Award and the American Jurisprudence Secured Transactions Book Award
- Rated “AV” (highest rating) by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
- Listed as a Florida “Super Lawyer” in the area of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Practice in Super Lawyers Magazine
  Listed in the “Legal 500” Finance, Bankruptcy South Section
- Listed in the 2009 – 2022 edition of Chambers & Partners, “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” in the area of Insolvency Practice in Florida.
- Listed in 2012 through 2021 Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights, Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Listed, Tampa Bay’s Best Lawyers
- Listed, Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine
MEMBERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- The Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association
- Southwest Florida Bankruptcy Professional Association
- American Bankruptcy Institute (Advisory Committee ABI- Stetson Law School Bankruptcy Symposium 2009-2018)
- Federal Bar Association, Tampa Bay Chapter, Board Member
- The Federalist Society
- St. Michael’s Legal Center for Women and Children, Inc., Adopt-a-Case Volunteer
- “Ride for Ron” MADD Hillsborough County Benefit Sponsor
- “Walk Like MADD” and DUI Checkpoint Sponsor
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Mr. Leslie has spoken on bankruptcy related topics, commercial Chapter 11 issues and debtor/creditor issues specific to Florida.
- “Special Challenges of Individual Chapter 11’s” – 40th Annual ABI Alexander L. Paskay Seminar (April 2016)
- Guest Lecturer, Advanced Bankruptcy Course, University of Miami (October 2013)
- Developments in Florida Commercial Real Estate, Tiger Bay Club, Sarasota – November 3, 2011
- “Business Bankruptcy Fundamentals II,” moderator, 35th Annual Judge Alexander L. Paskay Seminar- March 9, 2011
- “Circuit Splits” moderator for a distinguished panel of six United States Bankruptcy Judges at the 34th Annual Judge Alexander L. Paskay Seminar conducted by Stetson University College of Law and the American Bankruptcy Institute- March 6, 2010
- American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers, May 1, 2009 (with Russell M. Blain)
- “View from the Bench” moderator – Caribbean Insolvency Symposium, Breakfast and Views From The Benches – February 7, 2009
- “Hands-on Bankruptcy: Real Problems and Real Solutions.” Interactive Discussion at Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Meeting – October 15, 2008
- Guest Lecturer Advanced Bankruptcy Course, Stetson University College of Law (2008-2009, 2011)
- Issues raised by the intersection of bankruptcy law, real estate law, and family law in the current economic environment -Collier County Bar Association – September 19, 2008
- Chapter 11 issues -Southwest Florida Bankruptcy Bar Meeting – October 4, 2007
REPRESENTATION
Mr. Leslie had lead or had significant involvement in the firm’s representation of the following cases:
- Jumbosports Inc.
- Linc.net
- Bicoastal Corporation
- The American Ship Building Company
- Hillsborough Holdings Corp
- Lykes Bros. Steamship Co., Inc.
- Shaw Aero Devices, Inc./Shaw Aero Aerospace (defense contractor)
- Tidemark Partners, LLC (real estate developer)
- GSR Development, LLC (real estate developer)
- Enterprise Construction, Inc. (real estate developer)
- W.G. Wade Shows, Inc. (national carnival)
- Luxury Ventures, LLC, Creditors’ Committee (diamond retail)
- Weeks Landing, LLC, DIP lender (real estate)
- Sam Seltzers (restaurant chain)
- Big Al’s (restaurant chain)
- Shells Restaurants (restaurant chain)
- Ecoventure Wiggins Pass Ltd./Aqua/Pelican (luxury condominium)
- Dunkins Diamonds (diamond retail)
- Gyarmathy & Associates, Inc. (restaurant chain)
- Florida Investments (mining operation)
- Times Square FMB, LLC (beachfront real estate and hotel developer)
- Bankvest Capital Corp: client Espirito Santo Bank (avoidance action litigation)
- Turtle Creek, LTD (apartment complex)
- Florida Equipment/Florida Trucking (trucking company)
- Kearney Construction Corp. (regional infrastructure contractor)
- LDG/Landmark (regional developer SW Florida.)
- Flesher Windows (window and door manufacturing)
- DeSears/Appliance World/Ballios (appliance retailer in Florida, Colorado, and New Mexico)
- In re Fiddler’s Creek, LLC Client: Gulf Bay Capital, Inc. [DIP Lender]
- Colonial Construction (block and concrete manufacturing plant)
- Suncoast Aluminum Furniture (regional patio furniture manufacturing company)
- CP Land Holdings/Farmer Mike’s (700 employee farming operation)
- Old Corkscrew Plantation (committee – orange grove)
- Royal Public Ft. Myers (condominium project)
- Rick Johnson Auto (regional tire and auto repair chain)
- OneSource Coil Coaters (custom coil company)
- Evans Oil (representation of successful bidder in oil services company)
- Basil Street Partners (trustee representation: Naples Bay Resort)
- Agostino’s Fine Furniture & Design (regional retail)
- South Bay Lube (regional Jiffy Lube retail)
- Sanibel Sundial Beach Resort (largest luxury resort – Sanibel Island)
- Banyon 1030-32 (trustee representation – Ponzi scheme litigation – $39.7 million settlement)
- Jacobson (litigation and settlement $11 million Gulf Shore home)
- Kraz, LLC (self storage reorganization – successful wrongful foreclosure claims)
- BMR Holdings, LLC a/b/a Patchington (luxury women’s resortwear retailer)
- Florida Ear & Sinus Center, P.A. (ENT medical practice in Sarasota, Venice, and Lakewood Ranch)
- LTG, LLC (car rental company in Orlando, Ft. Myers, and Denver, Colorado)
REPORTED DECISIONS
- In re Kraz, 570 B.R. 389 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2017)
- In re Kraz, LLC, 539 B.R. 887 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2015)
- In re Dunkin’s Diamonds, Inc., 420 B.R. 572 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2009)
- In re Ecoventure Wiggins Pass, Ltd., 419 B.R. 875 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2009)
- In re Ecoventure Wiggins Pass, Ltd., 419 B.R. 870 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2009)
- In re Matos, 267 Fed. Appx. 884 (11th Cir. 2008)
- In re Kepley, 352 B.R. 526 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2006)
- In re Cassidy, 352 B.R. 519 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2006)
- In re Deb-Lyn, Inc., 2004 WL 452560 (N.D. Fla. February 20, 2004)
- In re Shaw Aero Devices, Inc., 283 B.R. 349 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2002)
- In re Diagnostic Instrument Group, Inc., 283 B.R. 87 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2002)
- In re Naturally Beautiful Nails, Inc., 252 B.R. 574 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2000)
- In re Psychiatric Hospital of Florida, Inc., 216 B.R. 660 (M.D. Fla. 1998)